The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-21
LEATHER FROM HUMAN SKIN.
A FiourIshiDG Tannery Where 1t Ii Pre-
pared for the Shoemaker.

remember that two or three years ago
incidentally referred TO a proment ply
stefan Of this city wearing shoes made
from the skin Of negroes He still ad
heres 70 that custom, insisting that the
tanned hide Of an African makes the most
enduring and the most pliable leather
known 10 man.
Only last week / met him npon The
street with brand new pair Of shoes.
looked at his foot wear, as I always do
his pedal coverings have an irresistible
fascination for me-and said. with a smile:
rs the down trodden African still be-
meath your feety' In the most matter Of
fact way. and without the shadow Of
smile, he answered. ~ suppose You mean
10 inquire If / still wear shoes made of
the skin Of a negro certainly do. and
| don't propose changing in that respect
until | find a leather that IS softer
and will last longer and present a
better appearance | have no ~enti-
ment about this matter Were / a
southerner-in the American sense Of
that word might be accused Of being
actuated by race prejudice. But am
foreigner by birth, although now am
American citizen by naturalization. /
fought ia the rebellion that the blacks
might bee freed ! would use a white
mans skin Tor thc same purpose IL 10
were sufficiently thick. and { any one has
a desire 10 wear nay epdermis upon his
feet after ! have drawn my last -reath be
has my ante mortcm permission.
The DOCTORS shoes AWAY. exhibit
peculiarly rich lustrousness in their black
ness He assures me that thcyncyer hurt
his feet The new pair be was using
when last saw him emitted mo- creakiu1
sound and appeared as comfortable as
though they had been worn 70 month
Their predecessors be told me. had been
in constant use for eight months. tie
obtains the skin from the bodies oi
negroes which have been dissected IN one
of our big medical colleges The best
leather is obtained from the thighs The
soles are formed boy placing several layers
OF leather together The shoes are fash
toned by French shoemaker of this city.
who knows nothing of the true character
Of the leather. but who often wonders at
its exquisite smoothne.- and says that 10
excels the finest French caif-kin
Do not for q moment think that this
doctor presents an exceptional case OF one
who puts the human skin to % practical
use. Medical students frequently display
% great variety of articles in which the
skin or bone. of some die-cctcd mortal
has been greWsomely utilized and in bursts
of generosity they sometimes present these
10 their friends. who prize them highly
One of the dudest dude. Boo town carries q
skin of "a beautiful young woman who was
found drowned Ina the Delaware river. To
still retains It's natural color Another
young man with whom / ann acquainted
carries cigar case made OF negro skin, %
CHASTITY skull and cross bones appearing
on one side in relief One Of the best
known surgeons In this country who zee
sides in this city. has beautiful instu
ment case entirely covered with leather
made from an African skin A young
society lady Of this city wears a beautiful
pair Of dark slippers, the remarkable
lustrOusuess Of whose leather invariably
exctes the admiration of her friends
when they see them The young doctor
who presented them 20 her recently re-
turned from an extended foreign tour.
aud he told her that bee had purchased
them from a Turk i'm Alexandria and that
he did not know what sort of leather they
were made of. but he supposed it was the
skin of some wild animal As matter
of fact the skin came from negro ca
dayer which once Wa prone Ola "a Jeuer
son college dissecting table. The roscttes
on the slippers were deity fashioned from
the uegrOs kinky hair Philadelphia
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